Modern Gifts: A Guide for Everyone on Your List
Amp up your gift-giving skills.
The holidays are a time of year to show friends and family how much you care about them, and how well you know them. Modern gifts infuse tradition with contemporary elements, making for truly unique gifts that your friends and family will treasure. Check out our list of the best modern gifts below for every person on your list (including yourself, of course) or skip ahead to find specific modern gift ideas.
Gifts for the Host
Gifts for the Home Bartender
Gifts for the Modern Chef
Gifts for the One Who Needs Some Downtime
Gifts for Yourself
Gifts for the Host
Thank your host for a great holiday party or weekend visit with these modern gift ideas.
1. Arturo Blanket
Thank your host for an amazing holiday party with a gift that exudes warmth. The Arturo blanket mixes comfort and design for a luxe look and feel that adds to the intention behind the gift. Made of warm acrylic and available in five colors, the Arturo blanket is a versatile gift option. What’s more, each color comes in a color blocking pattern paired with neutral cream for a refreshing design that’s quintessentially modern.
Make a statement with a retro-inspired table vase that has a tapered cylindrical silhouette. This vase adds texture to any space with its ribbed pattern while remaining neutral, which makes it a great modern home gift for a kind host. Complete the gift with a fresh floral arrangement or dried greenery to show your gratitude.
Elevate your host’s living space when you gift them these throw pillows with a modern twist. Black shapes outlined against a neutral cream background make it easy to blend with existing decor in a living room, entryway, or bedroom, while the abstract deco shapes make it a well-intentioned modern gift idea. The best part? These pillows include both the case and insert and come in a set of two.
Sometimes simple is best when picking out modern gifts. This decorative tray is made of porous stoneware to create a sleek modern look with added texture. Carry drinks to and from the bar cart with ease – this stoneware tray is waterproof, making it ideal for cocktails. Your host can use it in a number of ways from an entryway bowl for keys or mail, to a makeshift dining table vignette, coffee table tray, or drink holder.
Gift book-lovers sleek marble bookends in a modern geometric shape. Marble works well in both traditional and contemporary interiors and angular shapes like triangles bring an elevated look to modern spaces. This marble bookend set works well for the entryway console table, living room bookshelf, or home office space.
Help your host get ready for their next game night with a game in a sleek, modern design. This four-in-a-row game mixes brass metal with frosted playing pieces, making it both fun and aesthetically pleasing to keep out on the living room coffee table. It also comes with a weighted base to ensure the frame stays upright during play.
Gifts for the Home Bartender
Whether it’s wine, cocktails, or local brews, these gift ideas are sure to get friends and family in the holiday spirit.
1. Chelsea 5 Piece Bar Tool Set
This bar tool set comes with a display stand, a double jigger, a cocktail strainer, ice tongs, and a bottle opener providing everything necessary for an at-home bar experience. Stainless steel gold finishes and sleek black accents modernize the display and make this bar tool set a welcomed addition to kitchen countertops or behind the bar.
Provide a fresh update for your friend’s glassware collection with a set of Modo crystal red wine glasses. Their angular shape makes them a great modern gift to complement a modern tablescape, but their scaled-back design means they go well with any aesthetic. These glasses are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. Throw in a bottle of Merlot so your friends can start making use of their new wine glasses right away.
Introduce your friends to whiskey on the rocks with a Big Top crystal whiskey glass. These whiskey glasses are made with lead-free crystal, and their etched linear pattern creates a relaxed look with a modern edge. Customers raved about how sturdy yet lightweight these glasses feel. The intricate linear details elevate this set above other glassware selections and exude quality, which is why it’s a modern gift guide essential.
Pop the champagne when you give friends a set of crystal flutes. These champagne flutes are great mid-century modern gifts for the holidays or any champagne-worthy occasion. The cylindrical bowl and sleek stem give nods to the mid-century design aesthetic where crisp lines and functionality outweigh anything else.
Aim for subtle yet sophisticated with a set of smooth round marble coasters. These hand-carved marble coasters will complement your pal’s glassware while protecting wood surfaces and adding to their coffee table. These coasters are also food-safe, making them a versatile addition to appetizer stations.
Gifts for the Modern Chef
Gift modern kitchen decor and accessories to the at-home bakers and aspiring chefs in your life.
1. Staub Cast Iron 5.5-qt Round Cocotte
The Staub cast iron round cocotte (dutch oven) makes our list for best modern gifts in the kitchen because of its versatility, multitude of color options, and sleek retro finish. Made in France, this kitchen staple has many different uses from slow-cooking stews to baking bread in the oven. Its quality design ensures everything gets cooked evenly and stays moist, which is why some of the best chefs and restaurants use Staub products in their kitchens. What’s more, the Staub cocotte’s cast iron makeup means it can last for years and years of use. So if you want to find a gift that the cooking enthusiast in your life can make use of for years to come, this cocotte is the way to go.
Surprise the tea and coffee-lovers in your life with a modern home gift like this tea kettle by Bodum. It comes in both a sleek black or modern chrome design. They can use it to steep their go-to tea blends or use it to brew hot water for their french press. This tea kettle works for a variety of stovetops so you don’t have to guess if it’s suitable for your friend’s stove top. It also features a heatproof handle, making it a safe kitchen accessory.
This countertop blender by SMEG comes in a cool retro design that takes you back to the 1950s (the prime era for the modern design movement) making it a unique modern gift idea for the holidays. It comes in seven colors so there are plenty of options to match your friend’s design aesthetic. Stick with neutral black or silver, or go for something different with pastel blue or bright red. This blender can crush ice, create purees (for soup), and even juice fruits and veggies for an all-around versatile gift.
Update your friend’s morning coffee with this deluxe coffee and espresso maker by Nespresso. This single-serve coffee and espresso machine has a button selection for espresso or coffee so your friend can decide what they’re in the mood for. What’s more, it also comes with a 12-pack sampler for your friend to try (four espresso capsules and eight coffee capsules), so you don’t have to worry about ordering Nespresso capsules separately.
Give the gift of fresh orange juice or lemonade with the SMEG citrus juicer in a ‘50s retro design. This modern design gift comes in six colors that you can choose from including neutral black or cream, and fun colors like red, pastel blue, pastel green, and pink. It’s also electric, so no manual work is required besides slicing fruit in halves.
Gifts for the One Who Needs Some Downtime
Everyone deserves an at-home spa experience. Check out these modern gift ideas that exude comfort and make for clean spaces.
1. Sea Salt and Sage Scented Jar Candle
This three-wick scented jar candle by Blomus comes in a variety of light, relaxing scents including sea salt and sage. It’s made with soy wax which makes for a clean burn that’s free of toxicants. This candle blends easily into a variety of different aesthetics thanks to its colored concrete container, and does particularly well in minimalist spaces.
Inspire relaxation with this Sono accessory tray in a smooth ceramic finish. Available in eight colors, your friends can use this tray as a countertop organizer for toothbrush holders, soap dispensers, and tissue boxes, or rest it on the side of the bath to hold candles and body care products. Its minimalistic look and multipurpose design makes it a smart choice for the modern home.
Modern design gift ideas fuse natural elements with functional designs, like this bathroom storage container by Alethea. Crafted from whitewashed mango wood, it gives off a relaxed vibe that works well for a spa-like experience. Use it to store toothpaste tubes, extra face wipes, or smaller toiletries to keep the bathroom countertop clutter-free.
Available in seven colors, the Sono ceramic soap dispenser by Blomus has a sleek minimalist design that contributes to a relaxed ambience. When gifting a Sono soap dispenser, consider pairing it with other Blomus bath accessories for an elevated gift experience.
Gift your friends or family unscented taper candles they can light on spa nights or special occasions. These unscented taper candles by Root come in a Grecian collenette design, 18 color options, and two sizes to choose from. Unscented candles are a must for family and friends with scent aversions while they still create a warm, comforting atmosphere to relax. Complete the gift with a set of candlesticks.
Gifts for Yourself
Don’t forget about yourself. Show yourself some gratitude this year with these modern design gifts.
1. Dominick End Table
Treat yourself with modern home gifts like this Dominick end table. Crafted entirely of concrete, it features an ivory finish and a round ringed top supported by three cylindrical legs. Its concrete makeup makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, while its ringed top and cylindrical legs exude modern design. You’ll love this even more: No assembly required.
Light up your space with a novelty globe table lamp. This fun table lamp comes in three sizes (with the largest being 12.25") and its glass globe shade diffuses light from any standard bulb up to 60W (not included). Place it on your living room accent cabinet, bedroom nightstand, or make it the focal point of the living room on your coffee table.
Give yourself the gift of storage with a mid-century modern accent chest. The Williams accent chest comes in rich acorn (as seen above) or crisp white, and comes equipped with three storage drawers and a cabinet with an adjustable shelf. Make it a worthwhile addition to your dining area for buffet-style dining and glassware storage, or use it to store remotes, chargers, and miscellaneous items in your living room for a clutter-free space.
Reward your hard work with plush comfort underfoot when you gift yourself a sheepskin area rug. This handwoven sheepskin rug lends warmth to your bedroom, living room, or home office space and comes in a variety of sizes for you to choose from. For extra coziness, layer the sheepskin rug overtop a large area rug.
Get comfortable by introducing a new seating option to your living space or reading nook. The Rhodes swivel club chair comes in crisp white or dark gray so you can choose the color option that best suits your aesthetic. Complete with soft, stain-resistant boucle upholstery and dense medium foam padding, this chair comes with a plush design that makes it easy to curl up and enjoy your morning coffee or late-night wine.
Ready to find quality modern gifts?
